Housing Advisor

Temporary Contract

Job Details

Client: Swale and Maidstone Borough Council
Service Area: Housing & Inclusion / Housing Advice / Homelessness

Hours: 37 hours per week

Working Pattern:
Hybrid working
3 days at Trinity House
2 days remote

Start Date: 07 September 2026
Duration: 14 weeks

Number of Roles: 1

Location

Office Base:
Trinity House
20 Church Street
Maidstone
Kent
ME14 1LY

Pay

PAYE Rate: £15.51 per hour

Job Overview

Swale and Maidstone Borough Council is seeking an experienced Housing Advisor to provide housing advice and discuss suitable housing options with people experiencing housing problems.

The role will involve making enquiries and reaching decisions on homelessness applications under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996, as amended.

The successful candidate will actively manage a caseload of applicants living in Temporary Accommodation under a relief duty, ensuring each homelessness journey is progressed appropriately through to conversion to main housing duty, not priority decision or intentional homelessness decision where applicable.

Important – Please Read Carefully

This is a statutory homelessness / Housing Advisor role.

Candidates must have knowledge of Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 and must be able to make homelessness decisions under statutory legislation.

The role requires experience managing homelessness applications, housing advice cases, temporary accommodation caseloads and relief duty cases.

Candidates must also have a strong understanding of domestic abuse and homelessness, as a significant proportion of households in temporary accommodation are homeless due to domestic abuse.

Candidates without statutory homelessness, Part VII Housing Act, housing advice, homelessness decision-making, temporary accommodation or domestic abuse-related homelessness experience are unlikely to be considered.

Key Responsibilities

Provide housing advice to people experiencing housing problems
Discuss suitable housing options with applicants
Work as part of a team to deliver effective housing advice to the local community
Make enquiries on homelessness applications
Reach decisions under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996, as amended
Manage a caseload of applicants living in Temporary Accommodation
Manage cases where applicants are accommodated under relief duty
Progress homelessness journeys through to the correct outcome
Convert cases to main housing duty where appropriate
Make not priority decisions where appropriate
Make intentional homelessness decisions where appropriate
Ensure cases are progressed lawfully and efficiently
Maintain accurate records of homelessness enquiries and decisions
Support applicants through the homelessness process
Apply statutory homelessness legislation correctly
Consider domestic abuse issues within homelessness cases
Work with applicants who may be vulnerable or experiencing crisis
Liaise with colleagues and partner services where required
Ensure effective customer service and clear communication throughout the process

Essential Experience & Skills

Housing advice experience
Homelessness casework experience
Experience making homelessness enquiries
Experience making homelessness decisions
Knowledge of Part VII of the Housing Act 1996
Ability to apply homelessness legislation to casework
Experience managing Temporary Accommodation caseloads
Experience managing relief duty cases
Experience progressing homelessness cases to main duty decisions
Experience making not priority decisions
Experience making intentional homelessness decisions
Understanding of domestic abuse and homelessness
Ability to work with vulnerable applicants
Ability to manage a caseload effectively
Strong written communication skills
Strong verbal communication skills
Ability to work accurately and lawfully
Ability to work as part of a housing advice team
Good customer service skills
Ability to work hybrid from Maidstone

Desirable

Local authority housing options experience
Experience with domestic abuse-related homelessness cases
Experience working with households in temporary accommodation
Knowledge of homelessness prevention and relief duties
Experience preparing clear homelessness decision letters
Experience working in a busy housing advice or homelessness service
Experience liaising with domestic abuse support services
Experience using housing case management systems

Additional Information

Interview will be held online via Microsoft Teams and will last approximately 30 minutes.

Successful candidates may be offered the opportunity to visit Trinity House to meet the team and understand how the Council operates.

Candidate submission deadline is 27 August 2026.

Disclaimer

On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role.

I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify Fix Space Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.

Job Reference

OR112518